The 2025-26 Main League Baseball offseason is absolutely underway, and with the Winter Conferences behind us, we’re working our means deeper into the game’s offseason calendar. Amongst different issues, the winter in baseball means a gentle provide of rumors relating to free agent signings, trades, and the like. Talking of which, you will discover Saturday’s roundup slightly below.
Royals add Collins, Mears
Two days after signing Lane Thomas, the Royals have added one other outfielder, this time fetching Isaac Collins in a three-player commerce with the Brewers, studies The Athletic. The total commerce: Collins and righty reliever Nick Mears for lefty reliever Angel Zerpa.
Collins, 28, completed fourth within the NL Rookie of the Yr voting this previous season. He posted a .368 on-base share in 2025, although he struggled badly down the stretch, and began solely one in every of Milwaukee’s 9 postseason video games. Mears had a 3.49 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 56 ⅔ innings. Kansas Metropolis controls Collins via 2030 and Mears via 2027.
Zerpa, 26, threw 64 ⅔ innings with a 4.18 ERA this previous season. He has uncommon velocity for a lefty, recurrently touching 100 mph. The Brewers are a wonderful pitching group and so they’re betting on Zerpa getting to a different degree. He’s below group management via 2028. Three years of Zerpa for 5 of Collins could appear mild for Brewers, although consider Collins was an older rookie.
Cardinals conform to one-year take care of Might
The Cardinals and free-agent righty Dustin Might have agreed to a one-year contract, studies ESPN. We ranked Might because the Thirty sixth-best free agent accessible this offseason, and wrote that he “may find yourself being a price signing” given his age (28) and the standard of his sinker/slider arsenal. The one-year deal is a pleasant upside play for the pitching-needy Cardinals.
Accidents, together with a number of elbow surgical procedures, restricted Might to twenty whole begins from 2021-24. He made 23 not particularly efficient begins with the Dodgers and Crimson Sox in 2025, although, as he will get additional away from his accidents, his efficiency may enhance. If issues go effectively in 2026, the Cardinals may look to signal Might long-term, or commerce him for a prospect(s) on the deadline.
The Tigers have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran nearer Kenley Jansen, the Athletic studies. The deal additionally features a membership possibility for 2027. Jensen is 38 years of age, however he is coming off a powerful season with the Angels in 2025:
For his standout profession, Jansen boasts an ERA+ of 155 throughout components of 16 MLB seasons. As effectively, Jansen’s 476 profession saves rank fourth all-time behind simply Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601), and Lee Smith (478). Barring harm or ineffectiveness, he appears prone to notch profession save No. 500 in a Tigers uniform. Jansen is a four-time All-Star, and as a member of the Dodgers in 2017, he completed fifth within the Nationwide League Cy Younger vote.
Yankees re-up with Rosario
The Yankees have introduced again utility participant Amed Rosario on a one-year contract value $2.5 million, Jon Heyman of the New York Put up studies. Final season, Rosario had an OPS+ of 109 in a mixed 62 video games for the Nationals and Yankees. He hung out at 4 completely different defensive positions, and for his profession boasts an .800 OPS towards left-handed pitching. The Yankees acquired him from the Nationals in a three-player commerce main as much as this previous season’s deadline.
The Mets are in want of roster fortifications even after signing Jorge Polanco to a two-year free agent pact. The Padres, in the meantime, try to wring one other yr of competition out of their present core whereas additionally trying to cut back payroll on the behest of possession. These two goals have led to commerce talks between the golf equipment. Listed below are the small print from Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic:
“The Padres’ gamers within the talks embody right-hander Nick Pivetta, outfielder Ramón Laureano and relievers Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada. San Diego, in flip, is asking the Mets about their younger main leaguers and all of their prime prospects, each pitchers and place gamers.”
Laborious-throwing reliever Mason Miller, whom the Padres acquired from the A’s at the latest commerce deadline, is essentially the most intriguing title talked about. The Mets not too long ago misplaced nearer Edwin Díaz to the Dodgers. Whereas they did signal Devin Williams and might plug him in as a better, the Mets are little question looking for one other high-leverage arm for the bullpen. Miller definitely matches that invoice.
Crimson Sox focused on Contreras
In search of so as to add energy to their lineup, the Crimson Sox have curiosity in Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com studies.
Contreras is coming off a powerful season with the Cardinals, and he backs it up with among the finest batted-ball metrics in baseball:
The previous catcher goes into his age-34 season in 2026, and he is signed via 2027 with a membership possibility for 2028. Contreras has a full no-trade clause and will favor to remain in St. Louis regardless of the continued rebuild. That stated, his right-handed pop could be a wonderful match for Fenway Park, and the Crimson Sox profile as robust contenders for 2026 and past.
